Internet Safety

The staff at East recently attended a presentation, by two experts, on the topic of the Internet and the dangers presented to students by Internet predators.  Besides the technical information and frightening real life stores, a reoccurring message from both presenters kept immerging.  It was simply this.  We, as parents, have the guilt free permission to know where our kids travel on the Internet. The best way is to relocate those computers from the child’s private bedroom and place them in a common area that may be supervised at any time by you, the parent.  We, as parents, have the authority, the permission and indeed an obligation to question and discuss with our children the purpose of any Internet search or to determine the appropriateness of any video game.

Isn’t that empowering?  Isn’t it also, obvious?  It didn’t take a team of experts to tell my grandmother from Italy what her rights and obligations were.

 Seriously, I am sure most of us would be appalled to think our child got into a car with a total stranger!  Well, instead of vans and offers of candy, or puppies, today’s predators now drive powerful Pentiums.  But their intent can be just as dangerous and deadly. As a keyboard and computer teacher, at East, I promise to continually help you to refresh your child’s memory.  It takes a whole village and then some, doesn’t it?

Frank Easlick

Computer Lab